Photo courtesy of Smith, Bizzell & Warner Funeral Home
Jul 30, 1955 - Oct 29, 2025
Rest In Paradise my dear friend I met at Martin Luther King Academy.
Vivian Walton
November 07, 2025 | GARY, IN | Friend
My deepest condolences to the family Debbie's smile and love for her children was priceless may God send you all a comforter in your time of need
Samika Santiago -thomas
November 07, 2025 | Los Angeles, CA | Friend
My condolences to the family
Carell Hampton
November 06, 2025 | Gary, IN
She had a great personality and always would tell me about some sale going on. She was a great patient. My sincerest condolences to her family and friends.
Parmella Walker
November 06, 2025 | Friend
Always a smile, making people laugh and speaking the cold hard unfiltered truth! Rest well Debbie you will be missed!
Tracey Butler Owens
November 05, 2025 | Indianapolis, IN | Family
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.
Essedine Candy Burnett
November 04, 2025 | Gary, IN | Neighbor
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow. To Carlisa and Melissasorry for the loss of your mom!
Upshaw and Cannon Family !
Tanisha
November 04, 2025 | MN
In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always granny.
Clinneka Cobb
November 04, 2025 | Indianapolis, IN | Family
Rest in peace my sister my DM family
Keith Eaton" velt81"
November 04, 2025 | Friend
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Erma Butts, affectionately known as Debbie or Debbie Jean, was born in Booneville, MS on July 30,1955 to the late Johnnie Fay Miller and Herbert Young. Debbie learned about Jesus Christ from her grandmother and mother at an early age. She developed a personal relationship with Christ later in life becoming a member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Gary, IN, under the leadership of Reverend Carlton Davis Sr.
As a small child she moved from Mississippi to Joliet, IL with her mother and siblings where she attended Joliet Central High School. She later moved to Gary, IN, and she attended Martin Luther King Academy. She met Billy Butts in 1973 and they later married, enjoying 38 years together before his passing. Debbie was the phenomenal mother of Carlisa Wheeler, Melissa Miller, and Telly Butts. She worked at Premiere Candy Company from 1992 until they stopped production in 2004. She went on to work at St. Anthony’s Hospital in environmental services where she retired in 2014. After retiring, her life simple pleasure became gardening and shopping.
Erma had a special personality, known for her southern accent and utilizing cannabis. She was a well-known protector of her children and grandchildren, their biggest cheerleader, encouraging them in their pursuits. She was a source of laughter and love. If you needed a good laugh Debbie was the one to be around, sometimes not even knowing what she was saying was full of humor. She found something to smile about every day.
Erma preceded in death by her husband, Billy Butts; son, Telly Butts; parents, Johnnie Fay Miller and Herbert Young; brothers: Charles Wesley Leach, Henry Earl Miller; sisters: Hattie Ann Bolton and Brenda Robertson.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories two, adoring daughters: Carlisa Wheeler and Melissa Miller both of (Gary, IN); a special son, Terrance Wheeler (Merrillville, IN); two grandsons: Thomas Pierce IV (Indianapolis, IN) and Terrance (Keiara) Warren (Denver, CO); one granddaughter, Telisa Warren (Gary, IN); a special friend, Gloria Alexander as well as nieces, nephews, other family and countless friends.
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